19 people die after helicopter with 28 on board, including 11 children, crashes in Siberia

MOSCOW – Russian authorities say 19 people have died after a helicopter carrying 28 people, including 11 children, crashed in a remote Siberian region of Yakutia.

The Interstate Aviation Committee, Russia's top aviation body, said that a Mi-8 helicopter crash-landed in a remote mountainous area on Tuesday, dozens of miles away from the nearest village, and caught fire.

The committee said there were 28 people on board. Emergency officials said that 11 of them were children.

Officials did not immediately comment on the cause of the crash.

Russia has a dismal record of aviation safety, mostly blamed on poor safety standards and an aging fleet.